Margaret Timbrell’s exhibitions “Auto-Corrected” and “RedWork” open this Saturday at the Pacific Felt Factory. She captures and interprets moments when autocorrect betrays the user with something inaccurate or embarrassing in traditional “redwork” embroidery. We checked in with her to explore the effect. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. A reception is planned at the Pacific Felt Factory on Sept. 14 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Mission Local: First, what is this Red traditional embroidery? How did you get into that, and where is it tradition?

Margaret Timbrell: Traditional red embroidery is a European type of embroidery, and it was originally only for the super high classes, because materials were very expensive – Silk thread, and even just having the time to have a leisure activity like that, were reserved for royalty.

The British eventually developed a red dye, and this is how they became known as the redcoats – They developed an inexpensive red dye that held fast. This opened up…READ MORE